Building block including a dual gender connector

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are implementations of a hollow three-dimensional structure with a plurality of external faces. At least one of the faces includes a connector. The connector may be configured to engage with an other connector of an other building block. The hollow three-dimensional structure may include a connector with a fastener base. The connector may include a male connector portion and a female connector portion both attached to the fastener base. The male portion and the female portion, together as the connector, makeup a dual gender connector that connects to another dual gender connector upon an application of force.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to a toy apparatus, and more particularly, to a toy apparatus of both the inflatable type and of the building block type including a dual gender connector.

BACKGROUND

There are presently available a multitude of toy products of the building block type. Most conventional building block toys comprise rectangular-shaped members formed of wood or the like adapted to be placed in a freestanding manner one upon the other during use. These toys have the disadvantage that where only gravity forces are relied upon to hold the blocks in place, the structures built of such blocks are not always stable, especially where several blocks are stacked one upon the other. Further, such structures generally cannot be moved from one place to another.

Although most building block type toys are of this type, several available building block toys comprise building blocks, which are provided with means for detachably interconnecting a plurality of such blocks in various configurations so that a child may use his imagination to construct relatively rigid and stable structures and objects of various types. More particularly, conventional building blocks incorporating means for positively interconnecting a plurality of such block usually are formed of rigid material, such as rigid plastic, and are of relatively small size. The size of such blocks is limited generally for the reason that children in the age group for which such blocks are intended for use, namely in the age group of between three and twelve years, have a tendency to throw their playthings. Thus, should the building blocks which, as mentioned above, are formed of rigid plastic material, be of a larger size, household items may be damaged by such improper use of the toy.

It is well known that children enjoy constructing structures and objects on a large scale, approaching life-size, such as walls, clubhouses, etc. However, currently available building block toys are not especially suited for such use in that such building blocks, when constructed of sufficiently large size to enable such construction, are dangerous for the reason discussed above. Furthermore, such conventional building blocks are not provided with means for detachably interconnecting the same as a unit in a manner, which would permit the child to construct structures and objects of various configurations, which are relatively rigid and stable.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,267,662 describes an inflatable toy that inflates to form a polyhedron having walls with connector means integrally formed on each side for detachably fastening at least one additional inflatable member thereto. U.S. Pat. No. 4,267,662 describes having hook and eye connectors, snap connects, and Velcro connectors connecting two blocks together with the connectors being located at four locations on each longitudinal wall, wherein the locations are at a distance that is one quarter of the total length of the longitudinal wall. This toy block connection attempt is clumsy and not stable. Furthermore, the inflatable toy is not strong enough to stay together or in place, especially in the outdoors when wind is a factor.

U.S. patent application 2006/0046605 describes a pliable element with a perimeter whose shape corresponds to the planar development of the block. The block fastens with a face of an adjacent block with a snap-in fastening means. The formed structure using the block described in 2006/0046605 does not provide for an easily detachable block. Also, similar to other conventional blocks, the structure formed by the block is not strong enough to remain stable in the outdoors.

Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus of a building block for use in building larger structures that are detachably attached and stable.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the disclosure relates to a three-dimensional structure with a plurality of external faces. At least one of the faces includes a connector. The connector configured to engage with an other connector of an other building block. The hollow three-dimensional structure including a connector with a fastener base. The connector includes a male connector portion and a female connector portion both attached to the fastener base. The male portion and the female portion, together as the connector, makeup a dual gender connector that connect to another dual gender connector of a structure upon an application of force. Other embodiments are described below.

One aspect of the disclosure relates to a building block including an inflatable member having side surfaces formed of flexible plastic sheet material. The member defining, upon inflation, a three-dimensional hollow structure having three pairs of opposed, substantially parallel side surfaces, two of said pairs of side surfaces defining longitudinally extending side walls and the third pair of side surfaces defining transversely extending end walls, and a connector on said side and end walls of said inflatable member for detachably fastening at least one additional inflatable member thereto, said connector including a male connector portion and a female connector portion.

One aspect of the disclosure relates to a connector including a fastener base, a male connector portion and a female connector portion both attached to the fastener base. The male portion and the female portion, together as the connector, makeup a dual gender connector that connects to another dual gender connector upon an application of force.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the claimed invention, and explain various principles and advantages of some of those embodiments.

FIG. 1 illustrates a top down view of an element that forms into a building block in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates top down view of a connector in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates a view, similar to FIG. 1, showing several other examples of placement of a connector on a building block in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view, showing female or male components of a connector in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side view, similar to FIG. 4, showing a male portion and a female portion together on a connector, which makeup a dual gender connector in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates a three dimensional view of a building block having a fillable container positioned inside in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates a three dimensional view of another example of a connector on a building block in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 8 a three dimensional view of another example three-dimensional structure of a building block in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 9 illustrates a top down view of another element that forms into a building block in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 10 illustrates a three dimensional view of a building block in accordance with some embodiments.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

The method and apparatus components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular FIG. 1, a hollow three-dimensional structure may be formed with a pliable element 100. Pliable element 100 may include perforated bend indications 110, 112, 114, 116, and 118 so it is easy for a user or a manufacturing device to determine where to bend the pliable element. Upon bending of the pliable element at perforated bend indications or by using more advanced manufacturing technologies the pliable element 100 may be bent to form a hollow three-dimensional structure. For example, the pliable element 100 may be bent and glued together at the meeting points to form a hollow three-dimensional structure. In another manufacturing process, the pliable element 100 may be bent and secured by another means so that it forms a secured hollow three-dimensional structure, such as a building block, for example the three-dimensional cube structured building block 600, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

A pliable element 100 may be formed of cardboard, metal, moldable plastic material, glass, fiberglass, elastomers, foam, confection, organic polymers, and more commonly thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers, such as high-performance polyimide-based plastics, polyamide-imides. A user may bend the pliable element 100 at its bend indications 110, 11, 114, 116, and 118, which may be perforated, or otherwise indicated e.g., with markings, to form a pliable element 100. In another embodiment, manufacturing machinery, such as an injection or compression-molding device, may form the pliable element into a three-dimensional structure.

For example, a hollow three-dimensional structure 600 may be formed from pliable element 100 including a plurality of external faces 602, 604, 606, etc. The hollow three-dimensional hollow structure may have other shapes and numbers of portions and bend indications to form other types of three-dimensional structures besides the cube type of three-dimensional hollow structure 600 illustrated in FIG. 6. For example, another three-dimensional hollow structure is illustrated by the structure 800 of FIG. 8. Other structures included in the disclosure herein include and are not limited to spheres, rhomboids, octahedrons, pyramids, etc. The three-dimensional structure may be formed by a pliable element 100 with a perimeter 130 with a shape that corresponds to the planar development of a hollow three-dimensional structure.

At least one of the faces 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150 of the pliable element 100, e.g., face 140, may include a connector 120. The connector 120 may be configured to engage with another connector of another building block. For example, see building blocks 700 and 702, illustrated in FIG. 7. Building block 700 may have a connector 720 and building block 702 may have a connector 722.

The pliable element 100 may include bend indications 110, 11, 114, 116, and 118 between adjacent portions of the block. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, a portion may correspond to a face. Other pliable elements may have more portions than faces as some portions may be used to hold adhesive on them so that the particular portion may be used to stick to another portion to form faces of a hollow three-dimensional structure. In an embodiment, the pliable element 100 may be bent at bend indications where some bend indications may form an additional portion having adhesive thereon to adhere to a portion to form faces of the three-dimensional structure.

FIG. 9 illustrates a pliable element 100 having additional portions 902, 904, and 906, which may be used to hold adhesive that secures to an inner face of another portion to form a hollow three-dimensional structure. For example, adhesive portion 906 may adhere to the inner face of portion 150, and adhesive portions 902 and 904 may adhere to the inner face of portion 150. Other pliable element perimeters and bend indications and portions may be used with the disclosure made herein. In an effort to keep the disclosure to a reasonable length these other configurations are known and so are included as embodiments herein but are not described in detail for practical reasons.

A connector, such as any of connectors 120, 320, 620, 720, 722, may attach to at least one face of a building block e.g., 700 so that the face of the building block may connect to an adjacent face of another building block, e.g., block 702, which may have a similar connector 722 including both male and female connector portions. As is illustrated in FIG. 7, connector 720 may include a male connector portion 750 and a female connector portion 752. The female connector portion may be for example a slit (not shown) that is cut into the face of the block, or an attached external handle piece 762, which my be configured to receive a male connector portion 770. The male connector portion may be for example a protruding flap that may be shaped like a triangle or other shape that may be configured to insert into a female connector portion 752. A male connector portion 750 may be adhered to a face of the building block along with a female connector portion 752, as illustrated in FIG. 7. For example, a male connector portion 750 may be attached to a face of the block to include a hinge portion 780 that enables the male connector portion 750 to move about the hinge portion 780.

A face of a building block having a connector with both female and male connector portions may connect with any other face of a building block that has a connector including both female and male connector portions. In this way, a building block may be connected to another similar building block. Building block 702 shows the male connector portion 770 flipped away from a female connector portion 772. The male connector portion 770 of block 702 may be flipped up or down about the hinge portion 780. When flipped down it may be inserted into an adjacent female connector portion of another building block 700. Either way, the female connector portion 772 of block 702 may receive a male connector portion 750 of block 700 to assist the two blocks to connect with some stability.

In an embodiment, each face of a hollow three-dimensional structure may have a corresponding connector. With a connector on each face, any face of a building block may be connected to any other face of a similar building block. With a connector on each face, a face of a building block may be connected to another face of a similar building block. This is possible as the male portion and the female portion together as the connector makeup a dual gender connector.

FIG. 2 illustrates top down view of a connector 220 in accordance with some embodiments. For example, the connector 220 may be different from connector 120 of FIG. 1. For example, connector 220 may have a simpler rectangular shape, which may be different from the radially extended shape of connector 120 of FIG. 1. For example, connector 120 may form a radial design extending from a center of a face, extending to substantially near each corner of the face. In an embodiment, connector 220 may include, as illustrated in the close up top down view in FIG. 2 of the connector, a combination of a male portion 200 and a female portion 202. The layout of the configuration of the portions may be as illustrated in FIG. 2, e.g., alternating longitudinally across the length of the connector 220. In another embodiment, the number of female connector portion and male connector portion may be increased before alternating. In another embodiment, the numbers may be equivalent. In an example embodiment, the connector 220 may include two rows of a female portion 202 followed by two rows of a male portion 200. In another embodiment, the numbers of female versus male portions may be unequal but still alternating. In another embodiment, the respective male and female portions may be laid out laterally, diagonally, somewhat diagonally at non 45-degree angels, in a zigzag pattern, or perpendicularly to the length of the connector. In another embodiment, the respective male and female portions may form any pattern, such as a concentric circle pattern that includes multiple concentric circle patterns across a length of the connector 220 or a zigzag pattern. Connector 220 may have a different shape that may lend itself to other connector layouts. For example, connector 220 may have a circular shape, which holds one concentric circle layout having alternating male and female portions or any different number of male versus female portions.

FIG. 3 illustrates a view, similar to FIG. 1, showing some other example placements of different example connectors on a building block, in accordance with some embodiments. Connector 320 may have a circular shape and may be placed in the center area of the external portion of one or more faces of the hollow three-dimensional structure of a building block. FIG. 3 also illustrates a rectangular connector 220, as discussed above with reference to FIG. 2. Another connector placement includes wherein the connector may be positioned at or substantially near each corner of each face. For example, connector 340 may have four portions 350, 352, 354, and 356. Each portion may be placed substantially near each corner of a face. While FIG. 3 illustrates a single block pliable element having three different types of connectors 320, 340, and 220, and their respective layouts; in a preferred embodiment, a building block may have a connector attached after the pliable element 100 is bent into a hollow three-dimensional structure. In some embodiments, attachment of the connector/s may be done prior to the pliable element being bent into shape. In a preferred embodiment, a connector e.g., 320 may include both male and female portions. In other embodiments, a connector may be either a male or female type connector not including both male and female portions.

Referring back to FIG. 2, a connector 220 may include a hook and loop fastener including a combination of hook and loop components on a single fastener base, such as fastener base 230. In an embodiment, a fastener base 230 may include a base of a connector that supports both a male portion 200 and a female portion 202. In an embodiment, a fastener base 230 may be of a single material and may include a base of a single connector that supports both a male portion 200 and a female portion 202.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of example connector embodiments, showing components of a connector, in accordance with some embodiments. Some different embodiments of a fastener base 430, or a substrate, having either female or male portions are illustrated in the side view of a connector, as illustrated in the multiple embodiments shown in FIG. 4. In an embodiment, a female portion of a connector may include a plurality of loops 402. One or more of the loops 402 may attach to a male portion of another connector of another building block. Other female portion types known at the time of filing are included as embodiments of the connectors disclosed herein, but for practical reasons their details are not described further in the disclosure herein.

FIG. 4 illustrates embodiments of a male portion of a connector on a fastener base 430, e.g. a substrate. In an embodiment, a male connector portion of a hook type 404 is illustrated. Hook type 404 male connector portion may include a plurality of hooks that extend from a fastener base 430. In another embodiment, a male connector portion may include a plurality of double opposite facing attached hooks 406. In another embodiment, a male connector portion may include a plurality of double opposite facing attached hooks with a higher elevated smaller double attached hook pair 408. In another embodiment, a hook type 404 male connector may be a loop 410 that has a break 412 at any angle 414 from the base 416 of the loop. The break 412 may be any length in between a half of the loop length to no length. For example, a break in the loop may be accomplished by cutting the loop 4141 to form a break that has no intended break distance, but still has attachment capability when pressed and so separated to form a pressure break length.

FIG. 5 illustrates several side views of example connector embodiments, similar to FIG. 4, including a male portion and a female portion together on several connectors, in which each connector may makeup a dual gender connector in accordance with some embodiments. In an embodiment, a side view of a connector having both female and male portions may have an elevation 502 of the female portion substantially equal to, or equal to, an elevation 504 of the male portion of a hook type 404. In an embodiment, a side view of a connector having both female and male portions may have a female portion with an elevation 506, which is lower than an elevation 508 of the male portion of a hook type 404. In an embodiment, a side view of a connector having both female and male portions may have an elevation 510 for the female portion. With the elevation 510 being lower than an elevation 512 of double opposite facing attached hooks 406. In an embodiment, a side view of a connector having both female and male portions may include a female portion with an elevation 514 lower than an elevation 516 of double opposite facing attached hooks including a higher elevated smaller double attached hook pair 408. In an embodiment, the elevations may be different so that the male portion and the female portion may be attached to the same fastener base 430 and may be less likely to attach to one another and more likely to attach to a similar dual gender connector of another building block.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example three-dimensional view of a building block 600 having a fillable container positioned inside in accordance with some embodiments. The fillable container may be a separate entity from the hollow-three-dimensional structure (not shown). In that case, the fillable container may be positioned inside the hollow three-dimensional structure. In another embodiment, fillable container may be attached to the hollow three-dimensional structure and may be positioned inside the hollow three-dimensional structure. For example, a fillable container 610 may be attached to the hollow three-dimensional structure, e.g., 600, and may be positioned inside the hollow three-dimensional example cube structured building block 600, as illustrated in FIG. 6. For example, the fillable container 610 may have an attachment area 620 that coincides with a twist cap component 630 of the fillable container 610. Fillable container 610 may be made of a flexible material wherein the flexible material may include rubber, latex, polychloroprene, or a nylon fabric. The fillable container 610 may be filled with any liquid, e.g., water to help add stability to a foundation building block of a structure formed from multiple joined building blocks.

As described above, FIG. 7 illustrates a three dimensional view of another example of a connector on a building block in accordance with some embodiments.

As described above, FIG. 8 illustrates a three dimensional view of another example of a building block in accordance with some embodiments.

As described above, FIG. 9 illustrates a top down view of another element that forms into a building block in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of an inflatable member having side surfaces 1002 (e.g., front surface), 1004 (e.g., top surface), 1006 (e.g., left side surface), 1008 (e.g., bottom surface), 1010 (e.g., back surface), 1012 (e.g., right side surface), etc. formed of flexible plastic sheet material. Upon inflation member may define a three-dimensional hollow structure having three pairs of opposed, substantially parallel side surfaces. Two of the pairs of side surfaces may define longitudinally extending sidewalls and the third pair of side surfaces may define transversely extending end walls, in accordance with some embodiments. The walls may be curved as illustrated in FIG. 10 or the walls may have sharp corners to resemble the building block shape illustrated in FIG. 6 although formed by inflatable material.

Similar to the above described connectors building block 1000 may include a connector 1020. In an embodiment, a building block 1000 may include a connector e.g., 1020 on said side walls (e.g., 1002, 1006, 1010, 1012) and end walls (e.g., 1008, 1008) of the inflatable member for detachably fastening at least one additional inflatable member thereto. The connector (e.g., 1020) may include a male connector portion and a female connector portion.

FIG. 10 illustrates an inflatable building block shown with only one connector 1020. In an embodiment described above, each sidewall or surface of the inflatable building block 1000 may have a respective connector 1020 (not shown). In an embodiment, an inflatable block may include an inflation opening 1060. An example of an inflation opening may include an inflation valve stem and cap. An air pump may be used to inflate the inflatable building block 1000.

In an alternate embodiment, a building block may have a solid three-dimensional structure made of foam. Each face may have a connector having a female portion and a male portion.

In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present teachings.

The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.

Moreover in this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has”, “having,” “includes”, “including,” “contains”, “containing” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a”, “has . . . a”, “includes . . . a”, “contains . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. The terms “substantially”, “essentially”, “approximately”, “about” or any other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, in another embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and in another embodiment within 0.5%. The term “coupled” as used herein is defined as connected to accomplish delivery of embodiments of materials described herein. A device or structure that is “configured” in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter. 

Claimed is:
 1. A building block comprising: a hollow three-dimensional structure with a plurality of external faces; at least one of said faces including a connector, the connector configured to engage with an other connector of an other building block, wherein the three-dimensional structure is formed by a pliable element with a perimeter whose shape corresponds to the planar development of the block, the pliable element including bend indications between adjacent portions of the block, the pliable element configured to form the faces of the three-dimensional structure, the connector configured to attach at least one face to an adjacent face of the three-dimensional structure of the other building block, the connector including a male connector portion and a female connector portion.
 2. The building block of claim 1, wherein each external face of the three-dimensional structure includes a corresponding connector.
 3. The building block of claim 1, wherein the male portion and the female portion together as the connector makeup a dual gender connector.
 4. The building block of claim 1, wherein the connector is a hook and loop fastener including a combination of hook and loop components on a single fastener base.
 5. The building block of claim 4, wherein the connector is positioned at or substantially near each corner of each face.
 6. The building block of claim 4, wherein the connector forms a radial design extending from a center of each face extending to substantially near each corner of each face.
 7. The building block of claim 1, further comprising a fillable container positioned inside the hollow three-dimensional structure.
 8. The building block of claim 1, further comprising a fillable container attached to the hollow three-dimensional structure and positioned inside the hollow three-dimensional structure.
 9. The building block of claim 7, wherein the fillable container is made of a flexible material.
 10. The building block of claim 9, wherein the flexible material includes rubber, latex, polychloroprene, or a nylon fabric.
 11. Building block comprising: an inflatable member having side surfaces formed of flexible plastic sheet material, said member defining, upon inflation, a three-dimensional hollow structure having three pairs of opposed, substantially parallel side surfaces, two of said pairs of side surfaces defining longitudinally extending side walls and the third pair of side surfaces defining transversely extending end walls; and a connector on said side and end walls of said inflatable member for detachably fastening at least one additional inflatable member thereto, said connector including a male connector portion and a female connector portion.
 12. The building block of claim 11, wherein the male connector portion and the female connector portion together on the connector makeup a dual gender connector.
 13. The building block of claim 11, wherein the connector is a hook and loop fastener including a combination of hook and loop components on a single fastener base.
 14. The building block of claim 14, wherein the connector is positioned at or substantially near each corner of each face.
 15. The building block of claim 14, wherein the connector forms a radial design extending from a center of each face extending to substantially near each corner of each face.
 16. The building block of claim 11, further comprising a fillable container positioned inside the three-dimensional hollow structure.
 17. The building block of claim 11, further comprising a fillable container attached to the three-dimensional hollow structure and positioned inside the three-dimensional hollow structure.
 18. The building block of claim 17, wherein the fillable container is made of a flexible material.
 19. The building block of claim 19, wherein the flexible material includes rubber, latex, polychloroprene, or a nylon fabric.
 20. A connector comprising: a fastener base; a male connector portion and a female connector portion both attached to the fastener base; wherein the male portion and the female portion, together as the connector, makeup a dual gender connector that connects to another dual gender connector upon an application of force. 